You are here

Justice News

Wichita Area Man Appears In Federal Court On Charges Of Producing Child Porn

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita area man has appeared in federal court on charges of producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Elias D. Barthelman, 34, Kechi, Kan., is charged with five counts of enticing minor girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The indictment alleges that in 2011 and 2012 he used the Internet to contact the girls, whose ages ranged from nine to 15.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

The investigation involved agencies from multiple jurisdictions, including the Wichita-Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit, the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.